James Jennifer Georgina (The Yellow Book)

Los Angeles, Tuesday, 19 June 1990

You see the little lady on the front? That is how you make me feel: strong, upright with a torch of light.

Friday, 22 June 1990

Pa tells me you crawled over to his chair and pulled yourself up on his pant leg.

Monday, 8 June 1992

There’s only one thing to be said for being alone with Mumm and that is things get done. Rest of the week will be spent in London. More news.

Tuesday, 9 June 1992

Do you see the Birdie?

Saturday, 13 June 1992

Called in on Helen Blomfield... We had a nice chat and a glass of lemon barley water. She has a lovely pair of grape scissors which we will give to Richard & Sue for their 40th. Ran into your godmother. Papa shot a rabbit for dinner – the one whose been eating our roses.

Tuesday, 16 June 1992

Day at home and the only thing that made it feel like summer was Royal Ascot on the TV and strawberries in the garden.

Lundi, le 21 juin 1993

La Bohême: the sopranos torpedoed high C and Mimi died rather too fortissima. Bravissima. Never did like Puccini and Mimi kept singing “it’s cold”. But a big family occasion.

Londres, samedi, le 17 juin 1994

I found your bather bottoms in your cupboard! Do not have cupboards. Have drawers. Everything behind the front is out of eyelevel and lost in the dark.

Thursday, 15 June 1995

You sent me a beautiful Father’s Day card. The castle with the French flag, le tricouleur, looked a lovely place to live. Well, in 3 days I will be back to you and Le Mas and the hills and the pool. Thank you.

Dimanche, le 18 juin 1995

It was good to see Papa after 3 weeks. He’s lost so much weight he looks 10 years younger. His spirits are good and we are both hopeful that a better and more joyous life is in front of us. I am sure it will be a struggle but worth the effort. If you are ever looking for a charitable commitment, Clouds is a worthy charity. I stayed with Tomsey, Mikey, Guysey, Ansy and Franny last night in Hampshire. Oh and Lily and Craig as well. The weather is quite lovely and I still could catch the end of the rhododendrun.

Londres, mercredi, le 18 juin 1997

However, young G, oh how I would love you to be a politician. You have the talent and the genetics. By god it is an interesting endeavour: the art of the possible as your granddad repeated. Tomorrow is the Tory leadership 3rd round run-off. May Ken Clark win, one of RAB’s private secretaries.

Londres, vendredi, le 5 juin 1998

Postage went up on April 1. That is postage to Europe. I must say I often wondered at the lunacy of 1st class postage costing the same to Halstead, Essex as Lisbon, Portugal.

Darlinghissima, my caressima. How I missima.

Monday, 15 June 1998

One thing you should know now: if my body is not in shape, nothing makes me happy.

Monday, 15 June 1998

There are allergies – subtle as they may be that affect my eating habits. They are rather like subtle, and not so subtle – allergies to people.

Wednesday, 17 June 1998

Another 5 kilos and I can wear a 2 piece bathing costume. I should be pleased with myself inasmuch as 11 days ago I couldn’t, in good conscience, wear any bathing costume in public.

Paris, mardi, le 8 juin 1999

I like Paris in early June. Not too hot. Not too crowded. I want to live with you in the VIIème. I know my way around. I had a jolly good dinner with Pouillon who has wonderful confidence in my translator, Hérisson. We should have the translation 28 June. In fact, Hérisson is a specialist in the ‘roman policier’. And ‘Quercus’ is really a hybrid. I am going to dedicate (dédier) the French translation to Pouillon because truly he has made my career. De Beauvoir discovered me but she died too soon. I will dedicate the next to you.

Londres, jeudi, le 10 juin 1999

Now that I am a British subject, I can vote. (You can vote when you’re 18) And I did. The polling station was 5 minutes from the flat, next to World’s End Nursery and the voting form was a metre long. I voted with a simple X under Conservative.